Alternative ways for an ASIC company to get starting capital?

[Reclaim3r]

I've always wanted to make my own Mining ASIC business and Imm aware that getting the money for the die and manufacturing is one of the biggest hurdles. My question is: What other ways besides venture capital can a mining ASIC company raise money for its first product?

[BigMac]

I've always wanted to make my own Mining ASIC business and Imm aware that getting the money for the die and manufacturing is one of the biggest hurdles. My question is: What other ways besides venture capital can a mining ASIC company raise money for its first product?

You may try crowd-funding, but it is unlikely to work.
Pre-orders used to work, but now people don't fall into the trap so easily, after the infamous delay by BFL.

[Reclaim3r]

Has Cryptostocks ever worked? Lets say I were to ( hypothetically ) go onto Cryptostocks or Havelock Investments and release a stock. If people bought the stock and then I payed them back over time ( dividends maybe? ) would that work?

I was thinking about pre-orders too but I figured that thanks to the BFL screw-up and scams it's considerably harder to gain the trust of people.

How about Kickstarter? I know it sounds like a silly idea, but I wouldn't mind giving it a shot 

[Este Nuno]

You could check out the way Maidsafe raised their capital via Mastercoin.

Here's an article about it: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/06/03/mastercoin-maidsafe-crowdsale/

[bitcoinforhelp]

most of them getting money from preorders and thats why then are huge delays

[BigMac]

Has Cryptostocks ever worked? Lets say I were to ( hypothetically ) go onto Cryptostocks or Havelock Investments and release a stock. If people bought the stock and then I payed them back over time ( dividends maybe? ) would that work?

To be honest, I don't think it will work.
No offense, but it seems to me you have no factory, no machine, no workers yet but only an idea.

Imagine this.
Someone on a forum come to you and tell you, "Hey, I got a great idea but I have no money. You just give me 10K now, and I will pay you back more if my project works".
Do you feel comfortable giving your money to that complete stranger?

[Vod]

I've always wanted to make my own Mining ASIC business and Imm aware that getting the money for the die and manufacturing is one of the biggest hurdles. My question is: What other ways besides venture capital can a mining ASIC company raise money for its first product?

Just pay for the development yourself.  Then when you sell the units, you don't have to pay anyone a percentage or share. 

Can't afford it?  Think smaller - open a lemonade stand, save your profits and invest in something bigger.  Rinse and repeat.  Eventually you will have your own money.   

[Reclaim3r]

Thanks for all the answers. I can see where this is going. Este Nuno's reply of selling your own developed cryptocurrency looks enticing but I can see some market unhealthiness there 

No offense taken, Bigmac  . Any advice is welcome. Speaking of which, what If I were to show a viable prototype ( not in ASIC form, FPGA ). Would that entice investors enough?

  Vod, I've already got something going on like that. I have a small, local, computer repair business. I accept Bitcoins as payment too 

So, the picture looks pretty bleak for raising capital without the help of some venture capitalists 
This might be a little off topic, but are their any surefire ways of making friends with a Venture Capitalist or is that just pure luck ?

[BigMac]

If you can prove that you have the ability and the intention to run the business, the chance to get investors attention (venture capital, crowdfunding, or even borrowing, etc) would be much higher.
Good luck

[Reclaim3r]

Quick question BigMac, would a Shuttle Service be worth it be ASIC prototyping and would it be okay to DM you any more questions I have?
I don't like bogging down the forums